91福利社

I guess I can admit it now: I followed a boy to AU鈥攂ut that鈥檚 a story for another day. The point is, I came to AU with no direction and the dreaded 鈥渦ndecided鈥� label. After a semester of electives, a suitemate talked me into taking a drawing class鈥攎y first art class since 7th grade.

To say I was rusty is an understatement. I was unprepared. But I worked hard to catch up. After every critique, I would find a blue sticky note. Written in pencil, edge to edge, were words of encouragement and correction. Those notes motivated me to work harder and see what I was capable of.

Toward the end of the semester, I was called to my professor鈥檚 office. It was a small space鈥攋ust big enough for him to sit on one side of a large desk and for me to join him on the other. Even with the door open to the hallway, I was immediately intimidated by the closeness of the room and the quiet presence of my soft-spoken professor, who had guided me all semester with those same encouraging notes.

He explained that to stay on track to graduate in four years, I needed to pick a major. Then he asked me, point blank: What鈥檚 it going to be?

I realized he was waiting for me to choose鈥攔ight then, in that moment. Embarrassed, I asked what my options were. He rattled off the art degree paths available at AU in 2001. I chose graphic design.

I know now that I needed that moment. I needed the push to make a decision. I needed the direction. I needed Professor Peter Kaniaris to guide and encourage me into my future.

But the story doesn鈥檛 end there.

Fast forward to 2012. I had married the boy I followed to AU, and we were both on staff there鈥攆ull circle. God鈥檚 plans are so beautiful. We just can鈥檛 write them ourselves.

It was late summer, and I was walking between Merritt and Denmark when I saw Professor Kaniaris on the sidewalk. I was so excited to talk to him. I word-vomited this same story to him and ended with, 鈥淵ou are why I am here!鈥�

He paused and said, 鈥淪helli, I don鈥檛 remember that.鈥�

I didn鈥檛 miss a beat. I wasn鈥檛 discouraged. 鈥淥f course not,鈥� I said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e done it millions of times before.鈥�

I thanked him again, and we went on our way.

When I heard of his passing this morning, I couldn鈥檛 help but think: He is the reason I am here. He is the reason so many artists found their way. I am incredibly grateful for the direction he gave me and so many others throughout his career. He walked faithfully in the gift the Lord gave him, and because of that, his impact cannot be measured.